Bank robbery suspect arrested after standoff in Seattle

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SEATTLE - A bank robbery suspect who took his girlfriend hostage and barricaded himself inside a North Seattle motel room was arrested Sunday after an hours-long standoff.

Law enforcement officials said the suspect had been holed up inside a room at the Extended Stay America motel in the 13300 block of Stone Avenue North. His girlfriend was in the room with him, along with a pit bull, police said.

The woman was later released, but the remained barricaded inside the room until negotiators were able to talk him into surrenduring at about 8 p.m.

Seattle police spokesman Jonah Spangenthal-Lee said the incident started at around 1 p.m. when officers went to the motel looking for the man, suspected of robbing a Key Bank and fleeing on a bike earlier this month.

At the motel, officers learned he was sharing a room with a woman, who is also wanted on a misdemeanor warrant, and called for backup.

Police spokesman Mark Jamieson said the suspect spotted an officer, ran into a third-floor hotel room and refused to come out. The man told officers he would not leave and was holding his girlfriend hostage.

A SWAT team and more officers responded to the scene. All other residents on the third floor were evacuated from the building.

The girlfriend was released at around 6 p.m. while negotiators worked to convince the man to come outside where he was arrested.